Holiday Tree Lighting

On December 1, 2017 at 5:30-7:00 pm, the City of Menlo Park and the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce invite you to the annual Holiday Tree Lighting! A treasured community event that brings family, friends, and neighbors together to begin the holiday season. This year's event will feature holiday magic and surprises around every corner that kids from one to ninety-two can enjoy! Watch the event unfold and come to life with a live digital art display by local Bay Area artist Jeremy Sutton. Sing along to winter classics with the Merrie Olde Christmas Carolers! Warm up with free hot cocoa and cookies amd within all that fun find time to sit with Santa and his silly elves. Watch out though, the elves can be mischievous and might make super silly faces in their photos! Conclude the evening with a story reading from Santa and count down with Mayor Kirsten Keith as she lights the holiday tree.

Holiday Display Contest

Get ready to be dazzled this holiday season! The City of Menlo Park along with the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to bring you the Holiday Display Contest! Businesses all over Menlo Park are encouraged to decorate their stores with spectacular, eye-popping window and interior holiday displays for all to enjoy. The gorgeous creations will delight residents and visitors who can then vote for their favorites online. Voting kicks off on December 1, 2017 at the Holiday Tree Lighting on December 1 and closes at Noon on December 18, 2017, and winning business will be announced later that day once all votes have been tallied. Be sure to take a stroll through Downtown Menlo Park to see all the displays and vote for your favorite! To see a full list of participants and vote visit us online at the Menlo Park Events Facebook page.

Breakfast with Santa

We invite you to a fun-filled morning featuring holiday activities, an amazing pancake breakfast and of course Santa Clause himself! Breakfast with Santa is December 2, 2017 from 7:30-11:30 am at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. Fill your tummy with pancakes until you can’t eat another bite. Then be as busy and creative as the elves in their workshop with our holiday crafts. Make your wish list and check it twice because there will also be a station to write and submit letters to Santa. Postage to the North Pole isn’t cheap, but we’ve got an in with seven reindeer to help us get your letters there! Before your morning is over, be sure to take a photo with Santa and get together with friends and family, grab some holiday props, and strike a pose in our photo booth. Reservations are required and are available online, over the phone, or in person. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Firefighters Toy Drive and receive a dollar off your ticket price. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

CalTrain Holiday Train

The Caltrain Holiday Train presented by Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a Bay Area tradition since 2001, is a free family event that brings together thousands of local community members in the spirit of joy and giving. Decorated with 70,000 glittering lights, the dazzling show-train will visit nine Caltrain stations between San Francisco and Santa Clara over two nights in December, providing holiday entertainment and collecting donations of toys for local, underserved children and the Marine Crops Reserve Toys for Tots. Santa, Frosty and the whole gang will be on board to greet families at each stop. Enjoy entertainment from the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and special extended hours for the Model railroad exhibits, which will be open from 7:00-9:00 pm. This year the Holiday Train will arrive at the Menlo Park CalTrain stop on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 7:05 pm. When you come to see the Holiday Train, please bring a new toy or book to donate to the toy drive!

Supervisor Joe Simitian

On December 7, 2017 7:00-8:00 pm the Menlo Park Library will host a talk by Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian. Simitian visited 3 counties that had historically voted for Democratic candidates in Presidential elections, to learn what made them “flip” in 2016. He will share what he learned after conversations with over 100 people of different backgrounds including teachers, retirees, labor leaders, police officers, party activists and a host of others. Online registration is required for this free event. It will be hosted in the Menlo Park City Council Chambers.

Menlowe Ballet Nutcracker

Menlowe Ballet, the premier professional ballet company on the peninsula based in Menlo Park, presents It's a Wonderful Nutcracker. Blending the magic and tradition of the world's most beloved ballet, The Nutcracker, with inspiration of Frank Capra's 1940s classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, Menlowe Bellet's heartwarming original production celebrates what is most cherished about the holidays - the chance to share time with family and loved ones. With all the magic of a traditional Nutcracker, this heartwarming contemporary version is packed full of surprises you won't want to miss! Performances will be held at the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center on December 8-10 and December 15-17. Tickets are on sale now and available online.

It's a Suite Nutcracker: A Sensory-Friendly 45-Minute Matinee

On December 10, 2017 at the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center join Menlowe Ballet in it's presentation of It's a Suite Nutcracker, a 45-minute version of our full-length Nutcracker, for children and adults of all abilities and their families. This performance features a friendly, supportive environment for families of a loved one who has special needs. Traditional theater rules are relaxed and audience members are welcome to verbally express their delight, play with toys they have brought for comfort, and exit/re-enter the theater as needed.

2017 Holiday Showcase

On December 13, 2017 from 7:00-9:00 pm the Community Services Department will be hosting the 2017 Holiday Showcase at the Menlo-Atherton Performing Arts Center. See a collection of fabulous performances where you, our talented community, enter the spotlight! In our collection of class offerings you will find dance, gymnastics, ballet, aerial acrobatics, music, fitness, cooking, theater, drumming, martial arts, boot camps, and variety of sports for all ages, levels and abilities. Enjoy what our community has to offer in our tremendous collection of classes including Heartbeat of Hula, Soul Line Dancing, Persian Dance and more! We hope you and your family will be able to attend our annual Holiday Showcase as we take pride on creating a community that is vibrant, diverse and fun! Tickets are $5.00 and free for children (12 years and younger) and can be purchased online.

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